Burdened by plastics: What’s the road ahead for sustainable packaging?
single-use plastics were banned on July 1, 2022. However, India used several more types of single-use plastic items.
The Plastic Waste Makers Index 2019 ranks India as the thirteenth-largest investor in single-use plastic polymer production across the world. A section of experts and stakeholders say that the ban is not being uniformly enforced and these materials are being used for primary packaging across sectors.
Vaibhav Anant, Founder & CEO of Bengaluru-based sustainable packaging solutions provider Bambrew, says that the primary reason single-use plastics are still being utilised for packaging across industries is a deep-rooted and widespread belief that there are no commercially viable alternatives. “All of this is a misconception,” adds Anant.
Stakeholders say that the solution here needs to be twofold — there has to be a shift in the industry’s perception that green alternatives are a financial burden, and it should be ensured that these alternatives are scalable, practical and accessible for widespread adoption. “To truly drive an on-ground activation that reflects a positive transition towards alternatives, it is imperative for packaging as an industry to collectively strive towards innovations that are sustainable in the long term and to push forward products that prove that sustainability and functionality can indeed go hand in hand,” notes Anant.
Single-use plastics are an essential requirement in some industries — such as for syringes and IV tubes in healthcare — as the material cannot be reused.
